Christian Principles for Living #7 Trust in the Lord

Christian Principles for living #7
Trust in the Lord
The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work.
Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.
The apostle Paul said,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.
And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.
So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?
Please think about it.

Christian Principle #6 Flee Evil

Christian Principles #6
Flee evil
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22.
The Psalmist tells us,
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” Psalm 1.
Do you flee evil?
As believers in Christ Jesus we should. That’s not to say we cannot talk to someone who just might be a sinner. That would be wrong. After all Jesus sat with people the religious men of his day deemed sinners.
Marks gospel records,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
It is the job of a believer in Christ Jesus to point sinners to God. After all the apostle Paul said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23,24.
As Paul noted we are all sinners. The only difference between a believer in Christ Jesus and a sinner is we have had our sins forgiven by the grace of God “through the redemption that  came by Christ Jesus.”
Non-Christians however should be able to look at our life and see that we do our best not to take part in anything sinful. We shouldn’t have to tell them. Our actions should be enough.
So the question becomes, If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, are you doing your best to flee evil, to live a life free of sin?
Please think about it.

A Decision

A decision
Here is something I place before you to at least provoke you the reader to think.

The Eleven O Clock Parable

It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation, waits. 
Will the new law be legal? 
Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. 
On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.
On the other side of the street separated by a line of police, stand Men and women claiming to be Christian, denouncing the new law.
One man among them screams angrily. “HOMOSEXUALS ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”
Approached by the media he says it again, “homosexuals are going to Hell.” 
From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?
Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise? (Matthew 7:1,2)
Didn’t the apostle Paul say “what business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?” (1 Corinthians 5:12)
Did Jesus ever protest against anyone outside his faith? Against the Romans? I think not.
Wasn’t it the Apostle Paul who wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18?
Didn’t the writer of Hebrews say,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14  
Are those protesting against the law living a peace with those around them?
Are they showing Love?
Are they living holy lives?
Can these people who claim to be Christian be effective in reaching the whole world of which a percentage are homosexual?
A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?
Do we really know why a person is like they are?”
For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day, and how can I reach them for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law. Give me the wisdom to do what is right for those on both sides of the debate on this law.
If you were the judge what would be your decision?
Please think about it.

Put it this way

Put this way
Jesus taking to His disciples and through them to us, said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Put this way in the year 2016 this means,

If you are

 demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you

 unconditionally.

Jesus telling us.
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”
Jesus also told us,  
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45.
If you are telling the world you are a Christian you should be doing all Jesus and the apostles said to do. You should as the writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Please think about it.

A Royal Priesthood

A Royal Priesthood
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
Here is something I think Christians need to meditate on. According to the Apostle Peter we are a “Royal Priesthood”.
That we are “to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”
That we should,   “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Question. If you are a Christian is this the kind of life you are living?
 Are you abstaining from sinful desires?
Sinful desires come in all forms not just the obvious. Sinful desires are anything that is not pleasing to God. God tells us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. Do you?
Do you judge those you disagree with?
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Are you following these commands?
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
Are you doing this? If not are you not sinning? For sinning is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. Falling short of what God wants you to do.
Take a few moments to look at your life and see if you are truly following the word of God. Read the New Testament for yourself and ask God to show you where you fall short of following the life God wants you to live.
Please think about it.

Ten Points Christians Should Live by

Ten points Christians should live by.
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

Romans 12:9-18.

The apostle Paul says it all when it comes to how a Christian must act.
1. Our “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Sincere love is essential in the Christian life. The apostle Paul defines love when he writes,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
This is the kind of love we must practice at all times.
2. “Honor one another above yourselves.”
Sadly too many in the church do not honour those around them above themselves. They put themselves ahead of their brother in Christ. This should not be so. We must build each other up and not be exalted above others in our own eyes. As Jesus humbled himself so should we.
3. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Everyone who serves the Lord has their spiritual fervor ebb and flow. Thus we should be pressing into God. Studying the scriptures, and praying continually especially when we are in a low spot in our walk.
4. ”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Prayer here is the key. We will go through many things in life good and bad but if we are faithful in our prayer life God will help us and sustain us even through our worst days on this earth. Keeping our hope alive.
5.  “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
As Christians we should be doing all we can to help our brethren who are in need. We should also be practicing hospitality. Inviting people to our home showing love to them.
6. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Here is a true trait of a Christian to pray blessings on our persecutors and love our enemies.
7. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
As Christians it is important that we show sympathy to those around us in whatever circumstance they are going through be it good or bad.
8. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
We as Christians must never be conceited or proud. Never be unwilling to associate with anyone. We must as far as it is possible live in harmony with those around us. If we do not we will not be able to reach people for Christ.
9. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.”
We must live a good life. Never repaying evil for evil. But doing our best to always do what is right, morally, ethically and legally.
10. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
The Writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
These are ten points Christians should live by.